Finnegans Wake by James Joyce

Terence McKenna, the prominent ethnobotanist and advocate of psychedelic experiences, had a distinctive view on James Joyce's novel *Finnegans Wake*. McKenna, known for his unconventional ideas about consciousness and language, saw Joyce’s work as a profound exploration of the mind and reality. McKenna was particularly interested in *Finnegans Wake* for its experimental use of language and its complex structure. He believed that the novel was a kind of "cosmic joke" and a representation of the psychedelic experience. McKenna argued that Joyce's writing, with its dense and non-linear narrative, mirrored the way the human mind processes reality, especially under the influence of psychedelic substances. He saw the book as a reflection of the psychedelic experience's chaotic, dream-like, and multifaceted nature. In McKenna's view, Joyce's use of language in *Finnegans Wake* was a form of alchemical or mystical exploration, breaking conventional boundaries to reach deeper truths about consciousness and reality. McKenna appreciated the novel's ability to transcend traditional narrative forms and engage with the reader in a way that challenges conventional understanding.